Scott Giannotti, Founder CHA

Do you notice a difference between the pictures above and the one to the left? One looks like legitimate medicine and the other looks like pot. Both the products above and to the left are actually medicine however at this point the public seems to be only concerned with the product to the left. Herein lies what I believe to the biggest hurdle that we need to climb to overcome cannabis prohibition. Not "marijuana" prohibition, "cannabis" prohibition. Cannabis is a genus of flowering plants derived from a singular species, Cannabis Sativa. At some point in American history (the exact time is in debate) the US government found cannabis to be a danger to the public health of Americans. Why they felt that way is debatable. The reasons they pushed cannabis into prohibition is debatable, some believe in various conspiracy theories however nonetheless cannabis was pushed out of legalization as a schedule 1 narcotic under the Controlled Substances Act, meaning it was made illegal as a threat to public health. The lift of prohibition of cannabis has been stunted for many reasons. First and foremost, cannabis is not marijuana. Marijuana is a derogatory term that was propagandized to cannabis to begin the public sentiment that cannabis had no redeeming social or medical value. Calling cannabis "marijuana" in my eyes is the equivalent of calling a human being a racial or ethnic slur. I am of Italian-American decent. If you called me a Wop or Goomba or a Guinea it would be the equivalent, in my eyes to calling cannabis marijuana. I do not endorse advocates or activists to refer to clinical cannabis as medical marijuana because it further deepens the social engineering that cannabis is anything less than a credible and important plant in the role of industry and medicine. There are many other issues that I see limiting the progression of a high public opinion of cannabis. I could write a book about them, there are so many. For the purpose of this blog I would like to share just a couple. The first one is pot heads in the industry are opening medical dispensaries by-and-large as a covert licence to sell street marijuana in various forms to people that aren't really sick. They aren't nearly as interested in helping people in need as they are in making a quick buck and capitalizing off the so-called "green rush." I have no problem with capitalism and bless them in their quest to make a living, however many of these people could care less that children are dying and need medical cannabis research in a medically responsible and scientific way beyond smoking a joint and eating a brownie! When I see this sort of activity happening I become dismayed because these people, in my opinion, are doing very little if anything to further the advances of medical science to assist people to the best of their ability. What doctor do you know that prescribes, eat an apple a day and drink some tea? Yes cannabis is its pure form can have incredible medical benefits however the technology will advance when cannabis has been researched in clinical studies and the plant has been synthesized in a way (just like in the picture attached) to develop specific drugs and delivery methods that are customized specific to the ailment of the patient. The second problem is due to people wanting smoke pot as a recreational activity undermine the true power of the INCREDIBLE medicinal and industrial uses of the plant. Hippies want to listen to Phish and dance in the rain smoking herb go for it, but just understand that as long as cannabis is illegal for recreational use that sort of in your face protest behavior is doing nothing but causing people who need for clinical and industrial use to suffer. It is that sort of irresponsible use outside the law that prolongs the initiative of legalization. Just understand if you want to be Mr. 420 out in the public being some hippie hip hop radical you are part of the problem, not part of the solution. If the Government saw cannabis use as responsible and respectable publicly getting these laws passed would happen much faster. Listen to the congressional arguments on my blog at cannabisandhemp.org all the arguments AGAINST legalization point to the irresponsible public use. There are children dying and veterans of the USA suffering because of the irresponsible, radical public use of cannabis. It's important that everyone is aware that these people are just as much a part of the problem as the Government itself. Be a part of the solution. Get educated, be responsible, and spread the word. Cannabisandhemp.org